Wednesday, February 27, 2019

Shepastor: "Healing Comes in Phases..."

Jesus Heals a Blind Man at Bethsaida

22They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. 23He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?”
24He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.”
25Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. 26Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don’t even go into a the village.”
Mark 8: 22-26

The body is a wonderful metaphor for so many issues of life. Whether it is issues of cleansing, growth, physical illness and the need to regurgitate, rest etc., the body also reflects important and spiritual realities. Consider the healing aspects of the body and how the body can teach us some things about emotional and spiritual healing.

Healing does not happen immediately. Whether it’s a cut, a bruise, surgical procedure or whatever, the body takes time to heal. Although science has tried to speed up the healing process with laser surgery, the body still demands a time for healing. Although they have “outpatient” surgery, the body demands that you get rest after even the smallest procedures. Even if you get cut and require stitches, the body demands that you take time to “dress” and care for your wounds. Why is it that we think that emotional and spiritual pain can be healed over night?

Many of the physical pains that we experience pale in comparison to the emotional and spiritual pain that many people face. Consider employee grief policies from work. It is a blessing if you can get 2-3 days off of work when a loved one dies. The Jewish Community has this process right. They sit, “Shiva” for at least 7 days and in some instances 12 days. They allow themselves to deeply mourn and reflect upon the life and the legacy of their loved ones. They bury them almost immediately, but they reflect upon them deeply and slowly.

Our society, however, frowns upon individuals taking time to heal. Even in the church, we expect people to quickly rebound from loss, hurt and pain. We accuse people of “brooding” or not having enough faith. Where does this “hurry up and get through it” mentality come from. Jesus himself exemplified the need to spend time away from even those closes to him. Frequently he would go off by himself, the scripture says to pray. Quite possibly, Jesus was not only praying, but reflecting, communing, consoling and preparing himself to continue to serve amidst a people who did not understand, believe in or appreciate him. Jesus too was hurting.

Our text for today presents an interesting dilemma. Jesus who is God made manifest in the flesh seemed to have needed a “second shot” at healing the blind man. It appears that his first attempt “did not take.” But was it that he needed to try again or was Jesus teaching us something all together different?

Consider the following…

- A blind man is brought to Jesus

- Jesus uses “spit” to heal him

- His healing came in two phases

- Sometimes we need a “second touch” before our healing is complete

- We don’t understand the methods God uses to heal us

- We need to be honest about the fact that we still are not healed – still cannot see (had the blind man pretended like he was healed completely, he never would have
been given clear sight)

- “Don’t even go into the village…”
Everyone will not be happy about your healing! Everyone will not understand your healing. You may even jeopardize your healing by
sharing it with some people. Sometimes God has to "take us outside of the village" to bless us with healing.

- Healing takes time

Healing comes in phases. God may sometimes use “spit and dirt” to heal us…sometimes the very things that we, under other circumstances would view as lowly and undesirable are used by God to make us see more clearly and yes, heal us.

Everyone will not understand what God has done and continues to do for you so be prayerful and discerning with whom to share your healing process. Avoid pretending that you are well, that you are whole, that you are healed when in fact you are still, “seeing men walking as trees.” Be honest with the Lord, yourself and select individuals about needing prayer, support and encouragement to press toward your healing.

Healing comes in phases. Healing takes time. Healing may happen in unexpected ways. Be “for real” about where you are in the healing process. Then and only then will you be able to see clearly and be made whole. Healing takes time.

Post a comment or send me an email at Revcsmith1@gmail.com

Until next Wednesday,
In Faith, Hope and Perseverance,
Pastor Chris
www.shepastorchris.org

Wednesday, February 13, 2019

Shepastor: “Living the Life the Lord Has for You…”

Psalm 19: 7-14, NIV

7 The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The decrees of the LORD are firm,
and all of them are righteous.
10 They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the honeycomb.
11 By them your servant is warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
12 But who can discern their own errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then I will be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.
14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

God’s intention for our lives are so much greater than what we are able to conceive for ourselves. So often our lives are limited by the expectations of others or the limited exposure we’ve had to possibilities. Sometimes we are limited by our own fears or lack of understanding about who we really are.

The first step in living the life that the Lord intends for us is to recognize God’s power in our lives.
The words of Psalm 19 are written by a king who the Lord had blessed to have victory in EVERY battle. David reigned victorious over every enemy – the Philistines, the Arameans, the Edomites and the Ammorites. God even caused kings to send David costly materials to assist with building his palace. But David did not attribute his great victories, his successes, his triumphs to his own wit and power. David understood that ALL of his help came from the Lord.

When we worship and honor God 1st for who God is… our Creator, the giver and the sustainer of our lives, we understand that it is God working in us and through us to accomplish great things. It’s not about our weaknesses. It’s not about our short comings. It’s not about what people think or don’t think about us. It is God working in us to accomplish His good pleasure. Every life has meaning, purpose, a design, a plan. Our birth did not catch God by surprise. Just as every aspect of nature is intricately woven into a system that connects and supports each aspect of its existence, God has created each us with to be used to bring Him glory and to accomplish His plan and purpose on the earth. Periodically we should stop and ask, “Lord, what is your will and purpose for my life?” Which leads us to our next thought to consider,

God’s Word shows us the way…
Verses 7 & 8 of Psalm 19 declare, NIV

7 The law of the Lord is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the Lord are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
Consider the same verses from the Message Bible:
The revelation of GOD is whole
and pulls our lives together.
The signposts of GOD are clear
and point out the right road.
The life-maps of GOD are right,
showing the way to joy.
The directions of GOD are plain
and easy on the eyes.

When we submit ourselves to the Lord, God reveals things that can pull our scattered lives together. He provides sign posts that point out the right road. He provides road maps that lead us towards joy. God’s Word refreshes us, it is trustworthy and can make even the simple, wise. Following God’s Word is right and gives us joy. When we walk in God’s word, God’s way, God’s will, He gives light to our eyes.

9 The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The decrees of the LORD are firm,
and all of them are righteous.
10 They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the honeycomb.


When we walk in reverential fear of the Lord, we will begin to understand that God’s ways are sweet – sweeter than the honey in the honey comb…more precious than gold…
Through God’s word, we are warned and by keeping God’s way we find great reward. So many blessings are along the paths of obedience. When we walk with the Lord and are intentional about keeping His way, the Lord speaks words of warning to us…

The Lord tucks blessings into simple things along the way. David asks the Lord to keep him from “willful sins.” In other words, David understood that God had so many blessings for him along the path of obedience that he did not want to “mess up” his opportunities, his open doors, his spiritual blessings along the way.
In this Psalm we learn that God’s Word revives us, makes us wise, gives joy to the heart, gives light to the eyes, warns us and rewards us. God’s laws are guidelines and lights for our path, rather than chains on our hands and feet. God’s Word points out danger and warn us. But not only that – God’s word points us to paths of success.
When is the last time you prayed, “Lord, keep me from willful sins?” The world would have you believe that serving the Lord is a burden like chains on our feet. But serving the Lord is just the opposite!

Finally, David asks that his own words and thoughts in his heart would be pleasing in God’s sight. David wanted his words and his heart to please God. When you get hurt, or when things don’t go your way or if you stub your toe, what is the first thing that flies out of your mouth? That’s a good check on what’s in your heart. Jesus said out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Everybody can pretend to have a clean heart, but what’s in our heart will come out when we are pressed.
We all make mistakes. We all have felt ways and thought thoughts that are not right before God. We are human. But that’s why this closing prayer is so power. David asks the Lord to cause his words and his heart to please God.

David prayed…
14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.


When you find yourself speaking words and thinking thoughts that are not like Jesus, don’t wallow in guilt and shame. Follow David’s example and ask the Lord to help your words and your thoughts to please God. The more we do that, the more our words and our thoughts will line up with godly ways.

Are you living the life that the Lord has for you? Are you allowing the Holy Spirit to speak to you, lead you and guide you or are you hardening your heart against God’s voice? Are you seeking God’s guidance daily in His word or are you just casually leafing through the bible every now and then and sometimes on Sunday? If so, you are missing the life that God has for you.

Jesus came that we might have life and have it more abundantly. We have eternal life available to us through accepting Jesus Christ. We also have a joyous, rewarding, fulfilling and prosperous life God has for us in the here and now. Are you taking the necessary steps to live the life that the Lord has for you?

Post a comment or send me an email at Revcsmith1@gmail.com

Until next Wednesday,
In Faith, Hope and Perseverance,
Pastor Chris
www.shepastorchris.org